Giants sign another former All-Star, add to overstuffed competition for bench role

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Aaron Hill swings for a two run double off San Francisco Giants’ Sergio Romo in the 12th inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 16, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Giants added another former All-Star to their crowded competition for a backup infield spot, signing Aaron Hill to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp.

Hill, 34, passed a physical and was set to participate in the Giants’ first full-squad workout Friday.

It’s hard to remember a time when the Giants had more competition for fewer roster spots. Hill joins a non-roster group of recognizable names that includes Jimmy Rollins and Gordon Beckham, with Kelby Tomlinson also competing for an infield spot. Korean third baseman Jae-gyun Hwang adds even more intrigue to the mix.

The Giants still expect Eduardo Núñez to begin the season as the third baseman, with postseason hero Conor Gillaspie able to spell him while providing a prime left-handed bat off the bench.

Hill, a 12-year veteran, has spent most of his career as an everyday second baseman but also has played some third in recent seasons for Milwaukee and Boston.

His chief attribute that interested the Giants, though, was the right-handed power he could offer as a reserve player.

The Giants haven’t been shy about loading up with potential right-handed bench bats after having an utter vacuum last season; they own just one pinch homer from the right side over the past two seasons combined, and a lack of power in the pinch was a major reason they went 0-62 when trailing after eight innings – the first time sine 1960 that they went an entire season without a successful comeback in the ninth.

So Hill’s competition really should expand to include right-handed hitting outfielders Michael Morse and Justin Ruggiano, in addition to minor league free agent Chris Marrero.

Another factor: The Giants don’t want to put too much stock into second baseman Joe Panik’s struggles against left-handed pitchers last season, but it’s clear that they are covering themselves with right-handed options just in case it becomes more than an aberration.

Hill hit 10 homers in 378 at-bats between Milwaukee and Boston last year. Prior to that, he was an everyday player with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 4 ½ seasons. During his time in the NL West, he said he grew familiar with the Giants and respected their coaching staff.

Hill was realistic about his chances, saying at minimum it would be good to spend spring training, at minimum, around a team with a winning tradition. The fact he lives not far from Scottsdale Stadium made it an appealing place to showcase himself.

“A lot of guys in the past would wait for a guaranteed roster spot, but it’s definitely gotten harder,” Hill said. “I just want to get going. I didn’t want to sit around and wait for an injury or something.”

There is one consequence to having so many players in camp: the Giants had to take some wooden lockers out of the visiting clubhouse and cram them along some passageways on the home side so everyone had a place to dress.

Dieter Kurtenbach says the San Francisco Giants are embarrassing themselves by fixating on the luxury tax instead of being more aggressive in rebuilding their 98-loss team. Also, he talks about why the 49ers need to pay Jimmy Garoppolo now, or else.